Bahrain Test Day 1: Verstappen demonstrates, Williams struggles
The F1 cars are back on track. Here's a summary of the first day of the 2024 winter tests, dominated by Dutchman Max Verstappen. A number of teams, mainly Williams, experienced reliability problems, but the day was marked by the dominance of the RB20.
Max Verstappen started the year 2024 in a very strong manner. Even though the timed laps don’t mean much at this stage of the winter testing, the Dutchman still put the competition more than a second behind!
After setting the best time of the morning with a 1:32.548, the three-time world champion improved his mark at the end of the day by completing a lap of the Bahrain circuit in 1:31.344. As one of the only drivers to take part in the entire day, alongside George Russell, the Red Bull driver completed the highest number of laps: 143.
At the end of the day, Lando Norris, in second place, finds himself at +1.140 seconds from Verstappen at the wheel of his McLaren, and Carlos Sainz Jr. has placed his Ferrari in third position, +1.240 seconds behind the Red Bull. The pleasant surprise of the day came in fourth place: Daniel Ricciardo and his new VCARB are fourth. Just behind him is Pierre Gasly, who finished the day on C3 tires after long stints on C1.
Problems for Mercedes and Williams
At the start of the day, the Mercedes W15 had issues with the hybrid system and George Russell was unable to complete many laps on track. Then just before the end of the morning session, Alexander Albon stopped at the side of the track, his Williams having broken down.
The Grove team was able to fix the issue for Logan Sargeant, who hit the track behind the wheel of the FW46 during the afternoon session. However, the American had a real scare after a high-speed exit approaching turn 9, which ultimately only destroyed his tires. But a few minutes later, as night began to fall, the Williams experienced a transmission problem and the American was forced to return to the pits.
Williams finally closed its garage and completed the first day one hour before its competitors, and the British team ended up completing only 61 laps, the lowest total in the testing.
The only drivers who did not take to the track, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Pérez, will be behind the wheel tomorrow morning for the Mexican, and all day for the Briton.
The ranking of the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain 2024.
| N° | Driver | Team | Times | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verstappen | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:31.344 | 142 | |
| 2 | Norris | McLaren F1 Team | 1:32.484 | +1.140 | 72 |
| 3 | Sainz | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:32.584 | +1.240 | 69 |
| 4 | Ricciardo | Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team | 1:32.599 | +1.255 | 51 |
| 5 | Gasly | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1:32.805 | +1.461 | 60 |
| 6 | Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team | 1:33.007 | +1.663 | 53 |
| 7 | Leclerc | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:33.247 | +1.903 | 64 |
| 8 | Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team | 1:33.385 | +2.041 | 77 |
| 9 | Piastri | McLaren F1 Team | 1:33.658 | +2.314 | 57 |
| 10 | Guanyu | Stake F1 Team | 1:33.871 | +2.527 | 62 |
| 11 | Sargeant | Williams Racing | 1:33.882 | +2.538 | 21 |
| 12 | Russell | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport | 1:34.109 | +2.765 | 121 |
| 13 | Tsunoda | Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team | 1:34.136 | +2.792 | 64 |
| 14 | Bottas | Stake F1 Team | 1:34.431 | +3.087 | 68 |
| 15 | Albon | Williams Racing | 1:34.587 | +3.243 | 40 |
| 16 | Ocon | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1:34.677 | +3.333 | 60 |
| 17 | Magnussen | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1:35.692 | +4.348 | 66 |
| 18 | Hülkenberg | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1:35.906 | +4.562 | 82 |
